CMAC evacuates Furthur show due to lightning

Some 7,000 people who packed the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center Friday for a concert by the band Further were sent home early due to lightning.

By Julie Sherwood

MPNnow

By Julie Sherwood

Posted Jul. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 20, 2013 at 8:23 PM

By Julie Sherwood

Posted Jul. 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 20, 2013 at 8:23 PM

Hopewell

Some 7,000 people who packed the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center Friday for a concert by the band Further were sent home early due to lightning.

The concert by Furthur, a jam band that includes The Grateful Dead founding members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, was cut short at 10:15 p.m., due to lightning after the band had played for about three hours and fifteen minutes, according to a statement from CMAC.

“Based on all of the recent storms in the region, it was decided to evacuate the venue when red cell lightning was spotted on the radar, close to the venue ... The safety of our patrons and workers is our first priority and unfortunately, that led to an early curfew ..." stated Steve Williams, CMAC's general manager. "We thank everyone for being cooperative."

Williams said Saturday the concert was expected to have wrapped up just prior to 11 p.m.

Sgt. David Frasca of the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, said the early, emergency evacuation of CMAC was done safely, with no injuries, and people were cooperative.

A number of people were observed unfit to drive because they were drunk, he said. Deputies gave eight people in that condition rides to area motels.

“That is not something we do too often,” Frasca said. “But you can’t leave people there.”

In addition, a few people were taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning, he said.

Frasca said it is common for people to drink at concerts, though Friday night’s event had more of that than usual. He attributed that to the heat, as well as size and makeup of the crowd, he said.

Williams said Saturday that CMAC sold about 7,000 tickets for Furthur. Parking overflowed from the CMAC lots to Route 364, Lakeshore Drive and the plazas off Routes 5 and 20, according to Frasca.

He said there were a few arrests. Two of those charges involved second-degree criminal possession of marijuana for alleged selling of marijuana cookies and alcohol. A few other charges involved possession of narcotics and criminal sale of a controlled substance, Frasca said.